Undergraduate oceanography students are also able to experience life on the Investigator through the Marine National Facility’s Floating Classroom. In September, UTS students were the first in NSW, and only the second university group nationally, to participate in the program. They learnt how to sample and handle seawater and did an experiment measuring drifts and currents in preparation for conducting such experiments in a real-life situation.

Student Nick Mullins says he enjoys learning about practical applications rather than just receiving information.

“The practicals give you an idea of what you might be doing and where a job in this area could take you.”

Associate Professor Doblin says the Investigator and education programs provided by the Marine National facility are valuable resources for both researchers and students.

“I’m delighted the CAPSTAN program is available to our students because the only other way to live and work on a ship is if a supervisor or lecturer saw an opportunity and invited an interested student to assist with a research project on board.

“Now students have a great opportunity to get some experience at sea and this is something that UTS is really getting behind.”